John franklin field



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. I'. FIELD.

l SCHOOL DESK.

Patented May 11, 1897.

\\ ez-mmm 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2,

(No Model.) J. F. FIELD.

SCHOOL' DESK.

Patented May 11, 1897.

UNITED STATES -ATnNT Fries.

JOHN FRANKLIN FIELD, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. H. STAFFORD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,465, dated May 11 1897.

Application led J'une 8, 1896. Serial No. 594,717. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN FRANKLIN FIELD, of Muskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in School-Desks; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improvement in school desks and seats and its principal objects are, first, to make the seat vertically adjustable, so that it can be arranged to suit the occupants, and, second, to make the box or desk top vertically7 adjustable, so that it can be arranged to suit the users.

Other objects are to improve the seat-hinge and other minor details of the desk.

rlhe .invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of the parts of the desk hereinafter summarized in the claims,

and the accompanying drawings illustrate a desk embodying my improvements.'

Figure 1 is a side view of the desk, showing the seat and top in lowest position in full lines and elevated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged inside view of the connection between the seat and standards. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged inside view of the connection between the desk-top and standard. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5 5,A Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of the parts ofthe hin ge-j oint of the seat to the standard separated. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the seat hinge-joint with parts assembled.

Referring to said drawings by letter, A A designate the main side frames or standards of the desk, which may be ornamented in any desired manner. These standards have short front legs A', to which the seat-hinges are attached, said legs being concaved or grooved on their inner sides to receive the shank Z) .of hinge-castings B, which are formed to t The head of the hinge-castin g B has a square opening B in it just above shank b for the passage of a bolt C, and on this bolt is slipped a short journal-sleeve C2, which has a flange G3 on its end, fitting into an annular recess B2 in casting B, said flange having an ann-ular bead C4 on its inner face to engage the corresponding recess CZ in the seat portion D of the hinge, around socket al therein, adapted to lit on the sleeve C2 when the parts B D of the hinge are properly placed together.

The bolt O is engaged by a nut C5, by which means the parts are securely held together. (See Fig. 7.)

A corrugated washer c, of thin metal, may be placed between bead C4 and recess d', as shown, to reduce wear thereon.

The seat portion D of the hinge has a web portion D', which underlies and supports the seat, said portion having areinforcing rib or ange D2 on its upper edge, at the rear end of which is a dovetailed lug D3, adapted to engage a corresponding recess in the rear `board of the seat, and vthus fasten the latter to the portion D, while the front board of the seat can be secured by screws, as indicated in the drawings. Part D also has a lateral outwardly-projecting stud d4 on its outer face, which works in an arcshaped groove B4 in the inner face of casting B and limits the movement of the seat on part B. Stud d4 is surrounded by a cylinder d5 of rubber, which acts as a buffer and deadens the noise and shock of the impact of the stud against the ends of the groove;

As an additional precaution part D has a lug D5 on its outer face, adapted to engage a shoulder B5 on the inner face and upper edge of part B when the seat is lowered, thereby positively limiting the downward movement of the seat.

From the foregoing description and drawings it will be seen that the seat can be adjusted vertically on the frame by loosening bolts a, and then locked when adjusted by tightening said bolts, and that castings B form part of the standards for the seat and part of the hinge connection thereof to the main standards.

The standards A have the usual or other desired back-attaching construction on the edge adjoining the seat, this edge E being preferably provided with a dovetailed rib E', fitted into dovetailed grooves in the back boards e oi' the desk. In the upper ends of frames A, just in rear of the seat, are grooves F, into which lit corresponding ribs g on. the edge of the top-supporting castings G, which are formed separate from the side frames.

Bolts H, passed through openings h in the upper ends of frames A and through elongated slots g' in ribs g, secure the castings G to the side frames. The castings G also have depending portions G', which are slotted at g2 to engage T-lugs A6 on the inner sides of frames A, below and in rear of bolts II.

The top I and box-bottom t are attached to and between the castings G, as shown.

By loosening bolts II the top can be raised, having a vertical adjustment of several inches, and when bolts II are fastened the top is securely held in position. The portions G' and lugs A6 prevent the castings G swinging on bolts II and render the structure solid and substantial.

The standards A A may be rigidly secured together both by the back e and a cross-tie K, which is put in place first ot' all and facilitates the putting together of the desk.

The seat and desk portions are thus independently adjustable and can obviously be adjusted to suit the occupants and users, and

thus enable the children to be comfortably4 and properly accommodated.

Not only are the seat and top adjustable, but they can be easily removed from the standards without taking the latter apart. In this manner room can be economized in storing and packing the desks for transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. The combination with the standards having their upper ends grooved substantially as described; with the top castings G having a portion g adapted to fit the grooved portions of the standards, and slotted as at g', and also having depending slotted portion G' engaging a lug A(3 on the st-andards whereby rocking of the top is prevented; with means for fastening part g to the standard, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the casting B having opening` B', recess B2, and groove B4, and the piece D having socket cl, recess d', and stud d4; with the bolt C', and the journalsleeve C2, having flange C3, and the washer c, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination with the standards, the vertically adjustable castings B attached thereto, having opening B', recess B2, groove BAl and shoulder B5; and the seat-hinge casting D, having socket CZ, recess CZ', stid d4, and lug D5; with the bolt C' uniting parts B, D, the sleeve C2 on said bolt having fiange G3, and the annular washer c, all substantially as and for the purpose speciiied.

4. The combination of the standards A,hav ing vertical grooves F and lugs AG; with the castings G having slotted ribs g on them, fitting grooves F and depending portions G' on their lower edges engaging lugs A, and the bolts transixin g the slotted ribs and securing them to the standards; with the desk top or box secured to said castings G, for the purpose and substantially as described.

5. In a desk the combination of the standards A, having short grooved legs A', and grooves F in their upper ends and lugs A, the back e rigidly attached to said standards; the castings G having ribs g engaging grooves F and having slotted portions G' engaging the lugs A6, and the desk or box secured to castings G; with the castings B having slotted portions b, adjustably attached to the grooved front legs A the seat-supporting castings D hinged to castings B, and the seat attached to castings D, all substantially as and for thc purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I atx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN FRANKLIN FIELD. lVitnesses:

WILLIAM W. Banc/Us, Il. A. STAFFORD. 

